Elevator door



Aug. 16,519.32. A. A. ALLEN I l 1,872,054

ELEVATOR DooR Filed April 5.. 1930 ngi. Egg, u

:i A Il 2.8 l l I 5,25/ Il alla i i/ 16 gev a2 I| Z3 l was .l [0 17 l i 3 Y e. b l 1 ll 2.6 n l i: fav 'ang g: 5 a? l, 11 :v :si

fai; iae: I I 2 f' INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED sra'rss v1,872,05-f-l Parent -Frlce j ARTHR A.. ALLEN, OF BELLEROSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PEE-LLC@ COMPANY,

OF BROOKLYN, NE YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELEVATon noon Y vApplication filed April 5, 1930. Serial No. 441,872.

Y My invention relates to elevator doors, and moreparticularly to a construction of such doors wherein a light of glass is provided for permitting observation through a small portion of'the door as a matter of convenience to the operator of the car. vElevator doors of the type to which my 1nvention relates are used extensivelyas fire retardants, and serve not only as closures forl le the openings of an elevator shaft, but to prevent flames, smoke and fumes, in the event of fire, from passing to or from the elevator shaft through the door openings onthe various floors of a building.

If such doors, upon being subjected to severetests, are found to materially reduce the lire hazard in the respects above noted, there may be a material reduction in the insurance rates uponV buildings equipped with such doors. In the Unit-ed States, doors of a type which have been tested andf approved by certain laboratories recognized by the'insurance companies are inspectedbythe reprey sentatives of such laboratories during manu-` facture, and have labels showing such inspection and approval applied thereto, such doors becoming what is known as labelled doors,-V

and the users thereof being entitled to all of the advantages asV to lowered insurance rates such doors. y Y

Prior to my invention, the use of a vision or observation light of glass in any door immediately removed it from the class of la- 85v been the practice to use wired glass lights inclosing such vision openings. Y To obviate the above condition, I have produced an elevator door provided with a sight or observation opening closed by a light of glass in the usual manner, which door is equipped with a non-inflammable closure plate of fairly heavy gauge sheet metal normally held in a position to expose the sight opening by a member held in position by a fusible link. Said member and said linkare positioned within the sight opening so as to be immediately made inoperative to maintain the closure plate'or shutter in its elevated poi sition before the temperature aboutthe light growingrout of the presence in a shaft ofv belled doors, notwithstanding that it has long of glass-closing the .opening has become suficiently high to cause anylikelihood of the fracture of the glass and the consequent formation of an opening through thel door. A

The shutter, while mounted in guides positioned on .one face of the door, is nevertheless so constructed that when it reaches the fully closed position, it will Vengage the door structure and thus come to rest completely closing the opening, and remain `in this position. The shutter closes entirely by gravity and its action is automatic. Y

By locating the restraining fusible link close to the light of glass,'the shutter may be released as a result of the development of eX- cessive heat upon either side of the glass.

The manner ofmounting the light of glass is such'as to minimize likelihood of accidental fracture of the glass during normal conditions of use of the door.

.The'invention consists primarily in an elevatordoor embodying therein a fire retardant panel having an opening therethrough, al

lightof glass secured within said opening and closingfsame, metal vguides upon opposite sides of, and extending above, said'opening upon one side of the door, a metal shutter slidably `mounted in said guides, a member mounted within and adjacent one 'lateral side and the top of said opening and projecting part way across same, means carried by said shutter engaging .said member, and a fusible link mountedvwithin said opening and engaging said member, whereby with the fusing of said link the shutter will displace said member and descend by gravity; and in such f other'novel features of construction and combination'of parts as are hereinafter set forth and'describe'd, andmore particularly pointedV out in the claimshereto appended.

Referring to the drawing, v

Fig. 1 is a condensed view in elevation of an elevator door lembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section thereof upon an enlarged scale on the line 2--2 of Fig. l; and Y Fig. 3 is a horizontal section also upon an enlarged scale upon the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. v

@'macle of a metal composition, fusible at anarily being used. This light of glass 13 substantially closes the opening 11, itY being of sufficiently smaller diameter than said opening Vto permit expansion thereof and minimize likelihood of the breaking of the glass either as a result of such expansion or as a result of severe j olts to which said doors are subjected.

rIhe light of glass is frictionally held in position by means of cast metal rectangular plates 14 and 15 having flanges 16 directed inwardly of the opening and 'of the sides ofv the 'door into engaging relation withA the glass 13 along a line spaced from the walls of the opening. Gne of these plates 14 is pro vided with flanges lapping the door about the edge of the opening, beine' drawn tightly against th-e door by means of screw bolts Vor other devices so as to develop the desired frictional `engagement with the glass 13. The other plate 15 is provided with a flange abutting the walls of the opening and secured thereto by means of screws, lor in any otherV desired manner, this plate also having flanges 17,v similar to the flanges 16,-and like said flanges 1b vfrictionally engaging the light of glass. These plates and flanges extend entirely about the opening;

The top bar of one ofthe plates as 15 has formed thereon dependinglugs 18 andv 19 adjacent the opposite sides of the opening respectively. One of these lugs as 18 supports a pivotal member or link 20, which isadapted to have a free turning movement about a' pivot 21. rlhe other lug 19 `has secured thereto, in any desired manner, a fusible link 22,`

the other end of which issecured by means ofa screw 23 or other mechanical'device to the free end ofthe pivotal member or link 20.

The fusible link 22, under normal conditions, afl'ords a rigid ysupport for `the free end of the member or link 2O, thus presenting a normally rigid bridge or barrier across and closely adjacent the opening 11. Both the pivotal and the fusible links are located, in their entirety, within the opening 11 fairly closely adjacent the light of glass, so that eX- -cessive heat upon either side of this light of glass will fuse the material of the 'link 22 before a sufficiently high :temperature has developed to fracture or fuse the light of glass. Ordinarily, these fusible links are temperature but slightly above the maximum temperature to which they may be subjected under normal conditions.

Secured to one face of the door or door section 10, upon opposite sides of the opening 11, are vertically extending guides or tracks 24 and 25. Preferably, these guides or tracks 24 and 25 are formed of a single strip of sheet metal, bent upon itself and provided with an offset, shown at 26, to provide the necessary clearance for the free movement of a shutter 27 Vmounted in said guides. These guides preferably extend beyond the sideedges of thel opening 11, not only for the purpose of affording adequate guiding 'areas for the shutter, but for effectively closing the sides of the opening adjacent the platey 15;' They are of a length to guide and support the shutter when passing from the fully open to the fully closed positions, and when in such positions.

The shutterA 27, at the bottomv thereof, is

provided with an inturned flange 28 extending within the opening 11 into engageable relation with the pivotal link 20, this flange,

however, being narrower thany the shutter so as to pass freely between the bearing lugs 18 and19 and avoid possibility of the engagement of said flange withv said lugs in a inan-l ner to interfere with the free vertical sliding movementof the shutter 1n the event' of the fusing of the link 22. y

The channels in the lguides 24 and 25 are;

of a4 width and depth suflic-ient not onl, to permit a free sliding movement of the siutter 27, but to'permit the eXpansion'of this' shutter without likelihood, in the event of fire,'of its being warped in a manner. to in-- terfere with such vfree sliding movement.

The top edge of the shutter 27 is provided with an inturned handhold flange 29 for usev in mounting the. door in .the guides 24 and 25, or when restoring the fusible link connection after the shutter actuated.

The operation of the structure above-referred-.to is substantially as follows:

When constructing the door or door section, the vmalleable cast metal plate 15 is secured adjacent one edge of the opening 11. The lightof glass 13 is thenV positioned within the opening against the flange 17, and the casting 14 temporarily connected with the face of the door or door section upon the opposite side of the opening. The guides 24 and 25 are then brought into position upon the face ofthe door opposite that to which the plate 14 is att-ached, andsecured in position by means of bolts passing through the door and engaging the side flanges of the casting-14. Y i l Before tightening the securing means for the plate or casting 14, the light of glass 13' is set in relation to the opening sol as toV bring all edges thereof away from the wall has been automaticallyY observation therethrough.

of the Opening. When the vlight of glass is so positioned, the lsecuring means for the plate or casting 14 are tightened down, thus developing sufcient friction between the light of glassand the flanges 16 and 17 of` This barrier is located in itsv entirety withinA the opening and spaced away frcmthe plane of the channel ofthe guides 24 and The shutter 27-is then mounted in theA guides 24 and 25 by merely allowing it to drop downwardly through the open top of the channels of said guides until the-lian ge 28 engages the link 20, which arrests further movement of the shutter, thus maintainingl it in the open position. The handheld flange' 29 may beused to check a too rapid descent of the shutter.

When the parts are in this position, the light of glass 13 is exposed throughout substantially its entire area so'as to permit a free There is no likelihood, under normal conditions, of the accidental falling of the shutter so as to obscure the opening 11. This is the normal condition of a door embodying the invention,

In the event of fire, however, a very slight elevation Gif-temperature, possibly 2O -to- 250 will result in the fusing of the material oi". the .link'22, thus depriving the free end of the pivotal link 20 of its support. lThe,weight of the shutter will aid in the rap-id breaking down of the fusible link.

immediately that the fusible link gives way, the pivotal link 2O drops, thus removin the support for the shutter and permitting it to descend by gravity until the flange 28 engages the botto-m wall of the opening 11, thus eifectively closing-said opening and preventing the passageof re, smoke or fumes therethrough.

When it is desired to again expose the opening, the handheld flange 29 is used to raise the shutter, the pivotal link 20 is restored to its engaging position with the flange 28 and a new fusible link 22 is connected with the lug 19 and with the free end of the pivotal link 20.

n the opening 11, and the fusible link 22 is sitioned well within this opening, this being of as `great Va length as .is practicable considering the low compressive strength of the material of the link and notwithstanding its channelled formation as shown in the drawing. This locating of the link well within the opening is necessary in order to link 2O is then eXpose itto the heat well. away from the side4 wallsy of ther` opening which might tend to` protect the fusible .llink from the effects of such heat until excessively highl temperatures have developed. The point of connection of the fusible link22 with the pivotal link 20 permits the effective applicationy of the weight of this link and of theshutter to ensurea quick vbreakingdownof thelink when it has been weakened by heat, anda prompt closing of.the'shutter;-

It isnot my intentionto limit the' invention to the precise details` of construction shown inA the accompanying.drawing. Tn-

stead of-using'oast metal plates 14 and 15,

sheet metal plates may be used in lieu thereof if desired, but the castmetalplatesjhave been found more desirable inV actuel practice.- Furthermore, the formation of the guides and 25 as shown 1s not essential, 'although this method hasalso been foundhighly satisfactory m use. i w

Having described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to have protected byA Letters Patent, is

1. An'elevator doorl embodying-therein a` lire retardant panel having anopening therethrough, a light of glass secured within saidl opening and closing same, metal guides upon opposite sides of, and extending above, said opening upon one side ofthedoor. ametal shutter slidably mounted" in said Vguides,- a member VmountedV within land adjacent one lateral side'and thetop'of said-opening andY projecting partway across same,me'ans'c'ar-V ried `by said shutter enga-ging said member, and a fusible link mounted within said opening and engaging said membenfwhereby with the fusing of said link the shutter will displace said member and descend by gravity.

2.V An elevator door embodying 'therein' a` fire retardant panel having anv openingr therethrough,a 1light of glass securedwithin said opening andclosing same, metal guides upon opposite sides of,and extendingabove, saidopeningupon one side ofthe door, a

metalv shutter slidably mounted in' saidr guides, a link pivotally mounted within and adjacent one lateral side andthe top of said opening and projecting part way across same,

means carried by lsaid shutter and engaging` said link, and a fusible link mountcd'within said opening adjacent the side thereof opposite the point" of pivotal support of said rst named'link extending part way across said opening and engag'mh whereby with the fusing of said link the shutter will displacesaid pivotal link and de-v` scend by gravity,

3. yAn elevator door embodying therein" ai fire retardantpanel havingan opening therethrough, rectangular plates having inwardly directed flanges secured about said opening, a light of glass frictionally engaged by said inwardly directed lianges, metal guidesupon A ig saidliirst named link,

of said link the shutter will j through, rectangular 55 Ltion thereof bent to opposite sides of, and extending above, said opening upon one side ofthe door a metal shutter slidably mounted in said guides, a

d member mounted within and adjacent one lateral side and the top of said opening and projecting part way across same, means carried by said shutter engaging said member, and a fusible link mounted withinsaid -opening and engaging said member, whereby with the --1' fusing of said link the shutter will displace said member and descend by gravity.

4. An elevator door embodying therein a fire retardant panel having an opening therethrough, rectangular plates having inwardly directed flanges secured about said opening,

a light of glass frictionally engaged bysaid inwardly directed flanges, metal guides upon opposite sides of, and extending above, said opening upon one side of the' door, a metal shutter slidably mounted in said guides, lugs carried by the top of one of said frames adj acent each lateral side of said opening, a link pivotally Vconnected toV one of vsaid lugs and extending part way across the opening toa# ward the other lug, anda fusible ylink con! nected with said other lug and the end of said first named link projecting well within said opening and engaging said pivotally mounted link, whereby with the fusing of s-aid link tlie shut-ter will displace said pivotal link and descend by gravity.

5. An elevator door embodying therein a fire retardant panel having an opening there` through, a light of glass secured within said opening and closing same, inetal guides upon opposite sides of, and extending above, said opening upon one side of the door, a sheet metal shutter having a laterally reduced portion thereof bent to 4e' project within the opening, a link pivotally mounted within and adjacent one lateral side and the top of said opening and projecting part way-across saine in engageable relation with said inturned l edge of said shutter, and a fusible link mounted within said opening adjacent the side" thereof opposite the point of pivotal support of said first named link extending part'way across said opening and engaging said pivotally mounted link, whereby with the fusing displace said member and descend by gravity.

6. An elevator door embodying therein a lire retardant panel having an opening thereplates having inwardly directed flanges secured about said opening,`

opening toward the other lug,A and a fusiblelink mounted Awithin Vsaid opening adjacent:

the side thereof opposite the' point 4of pivotal support of said first named link extending part way across said opening andengaging.

whereby withv said pivotally mounted link, the fusing of said link the shutter will displace said pivotal link and descend by gravity. a 4

7. An elevator door embodying therein a lire retardant panel having an opening therethrough, rectangular plates having inward-ly sheet metal bent upon itself and provided` with an offset to form a channel extending beyond the side edges of the sheet metal plate constituting a shutter slidably mounted in the channels -of said reduced and bent inwardly of the opening, and having at the top thereof a laterally reduced portion bent away from the opening to form a handheld, lugs carried by the top of one of said frames adjacent each lateral side of said opening, a link pivotally connected to one of said lugs and extending part way across the opening toward the other lug, and a fusible link mounted within said opening adjacent the side thereof. opposite the point of pivotal support of said first named link extending part way across said opening and engaging said pivotally mounted link, whereby with the fusing of said link the shutter will displace said pivotal link and descend by gravity'.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 1st day of April, 1930.

j ARTHUR A.. ALLEN.

opening, a flatV guides, and having the lower edge thereof laterally 

